Tennis Staff

Our international professional staff is experienced in teaching all aspects of “Play to Win” and can guarantee improvement with the Technique to Win, Train to Win and Think to Win instructional approaches. All Topnotch Tennis Professionals are USPTA/PTR certified.

Meet the pros

Tennis Staff Bios

Milan Kubala, Director of Tennis

Milan has many years of experience in managing, marketing, public relations and coaching in the tennis industry. Milan comes to Topnotch from the Midland Community Tennis Center in Michigan, where he was the director of tennis operations. He has served as Michigan State President, District Vice President, and executive member of the US Professional Tennis Association Midwest Division since 2000, and has been a popular lecturer on tennis marketing, teaching, and management at the USPTA Tennis Conventions since 1997.

Milan attended the prestigious PSK Olymp Prague Tennis Academy in the Czech Republic, and was a member of the 1991 Czech National Championship Team. In addition, Milan held ITF World Junior Tennis Ranking and a top 10 NCAA Ranking.

“Having experience with international competition and professional tennis and seeing what it takes, I feel that I can show players how to reach their personal potential. My daily focus is on improving each player’s passion for the game of tennis. Tennis is a life-long sport that can help participants become winners in any aspect of life. I want each person I bring into contact with the sport to experience success, whether it be at the beginner or competitive, amateur or professional level. Each of us can be a professional at our own level by using the principles of “Play to Win.” – Milan

Milan is a leader who possesses enthusiasm and energy, coupled with high-level organizational and managerial skills, and an appreciation of the rich history, elite clientele, and prestige that the Topnotch Resort represents. He is also a competent communicator, navigating delicate situations with tact, discretion, and ease.

“Everything I have learned has been through my life experiences with tennis, whether it has been playing the game myself both as an amateur and professional, coaching elite players, teaching beginners, organizing and facilitating teams, organizing events, developing and adhering to a budget, caring for the courts and facility, managing and supporting other professionals (tennis and support staff), and developing tennis programs. In short, I love tennis. I think tennis presents lessons and opportunities to the people that play it like no other sport can. It is a sport that can be enjoyed at any age and across a lifetime. I want to share tennis and continue to learn about tennis.”

Shaun Zemanek, Head Staff Professional

Shaun joins the Topnotch Tennis team all the way from Brisbane, Australia. During his time here he has trained many successful USTA teams and competitive players, sharing his experience from working with some of the world’s best coaches and players.

Throughout his junior playing career, Shaun finished top 10 in state and top 100 in national rankings, in both singles and doubles. After graduating, Shaun started training full time under former Wimbledon Champion, Ashley Cooper. Over the following years, he travelled around Australia and internationally competed in many ITF and national tournaments. During this time, Shaun was fortunate enough to train with many great Australian champions, such as former world no.1 Patrick Rafter and top 25 player Scott Draper, who both shared with him a lot of their secrets to success.

Shaun started his coaching career working with some of Australia’s top junior players. To further his education, Shaun studied under one of Australia’s most respected coaches, Mal Murphy. He completed his Level 1, 2, and advanced coaching degree with the Australian Tennis Professional Coaches Association (A.T.P.C.A.). Shaun then moved down to Australia’s Gold Coast and began working alongside former Wimbledon Champion, Pat Cash, and top physical trainer, Gavin Hooper. There he was exposed to many different coaching methods and learned first hand what it takes to be the best at the sport.

After leaving Cash Hopper, Shaun was offered the Head Tennis Professional position at the prestigious Hayman Island Resort. After 2 years of building a successful tennis program he moved back home to Brisbane and began working as the Head Pro at the state’s top tennis school and helped them win a state championship.

In 2003 Shaun moved to Stowe and began working as a seasonal tennis pro at Topnotch. In 2005 he became the Head Staff Professional, helping to make Topnotch one of the most renowned tennis programs in the country.

Shaun’s motto is, “Practice doesn’t make you perfect, perfect practice make you perfect.”

Simba Happy, Tennis Professional, USPTA

Simbarashe Happy is a Tennis Professional from Mutare, Zimbabwe. He was one of the top junior tennis players in the nation and he represented Zimbabwe on numerous occasions in international tournaments resulting in him getting an ITF ranking. Upon completing High School he took up an athletic scholarship offer from Florida A&M University. At Florida A&M, he was part of the team which made it to the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Finals. From 2010 through 2012 he served as the graduate assistant coach. This past spring he was part of the coaching staff which led the Florida A&M University Men’s Tennis to a NCAA high national ranking of 68 in Men’s Division 1 tennis.